News

$340m collected in ticket amnesty

60% paid on final day, says security minister

KINGSTON, Jamaica — National Security minister Peter Bunting says that over 60 per cent of the almost $340 million collected from the recent traffic ticket amnesty was earned on the last day.

The amnesty which was in effect from July 1 to December 31, 2012, allowed motorists to incur no additional fees or penalties on unpaid tickets issued prior to September 21, 2010, once they were paid in full.

More than 21,000 people showed up at tax offices islandwide on December 31, the minister said.

In the meantime Bunting said that the security ministry is aware that there are people with unpaid tickets who did not take advantage of the amnesty.

He noted that these people would have to settle these tickets in the traffic court when sessions resume on Monday, January 7.

People who have warrants issued against them will first need to report to the police before going to the Traffic court.

Bunting added that special arrangements have been made for people who had started the payment process at the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Traffic Division but did not get the opportunity to complete the process by Monday December 31, 2012, as the system was overwhelmed.

Those people have already been issued stamped documents from the Traffic Division verifying that they had started the process of payment before the end of the amnesty.

People in that position are advised to go to a tax office with the documents before Friday, January 4, to complete payments and secure the benefits of the amnesty.